Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

If marriage is the equivalent of selling yourself into slavery, women with self respect should reject the offer.

Biden: Oh no. We’ve upset Big Pharma again.

ha ha ha! Nice try weird people.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

“Cheese and Kraken paired together for the appetizer trial.”

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

If you still can’t see these things even now, maybe politics isn’t your forte and you should stop writing about it.

We won’t go back.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

So many bastards, so little time.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

It’s not hopeless, and we’re not helpless.

You are here: Home / Balloon Juice / Medium Cool with BGinCHI – What Are We Watching?

Medium Cool with BGinCHI – What Are We Watching?

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In case you’re new to Medium Cool, BGinCHI is here once a week to offer a thread on culture, mainly film & books, with some TV thrown in.  We’re here at 7 pm on Sunday nights.

It’s been a while since we checked in on what everyone is watching. For this week’s Medium Cool, let’s hear about what’s on your screen, or a good book, or some music.

 

Reader Interactions

140Comments

  2. 2.

    Elizabelle

    Just starting on Bosch Legacy. I hear they have brought Crate and Barrel along. FTW.

  3. 3.

    BGinCHI

    Tokyo Vice, Season 1, was a recent favorite. Looking forward to season 2.

    Just finished “The Staircase.” I’d watched the doc, and was curious how they’d make a series out of it. I think it succeeds, though it’s 2 episodes too long. A bit more concision would have helped. Great performances, though. Amazing cast (my Juliette Binoche!).

  4. 4.

    zhena gogolia

    @Baud: I’m watching Hacks, but that’s on HBO.

    We just watched Signora Volpe, very entertaining. Emilia Fox, daughter of the Jackal.

    Reading? Jane Eyre. I’m about to have a hip replacement so I need comfort food.

  5. 5.

    Elizabelle

    Also, BG, thank you for the thread on lit/culture touching on the arrival of fascism (last week).  Jackals had some good recommendations.

  6. 6.

    BGinCHI

    @Elizabelle: We’ve been saving it. Can’t wait to watch!

    Totally agree on C&B.

    We got through “The Lincoln Lawyer.” Same writer of the novels Michael Connolly, but LL fails where Bosch succeeds. Not a terrible show, but the writing just ain’t as good.

  10. 10.

    zhena gogolia

    Ooh, I recognized Ansel Elgort in the OP. He’s great in West Side Story. I mean, really great. Robbed by the critics.

  11. 11.

    zhena gogolia

    @Elizabelle: I’ve read it, but nowhere near as often as I read Jane.

    ETA: It was made into a lovely erotic film with Nathaniel Parker, though.

  15. 15.

    Leto

    We’re watching a number of shows atm: Shining Girls (on Apple TV), The Boys S4 just started up again (Amazon), Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ms Marvel (both Disney+). Thoroughly enjoyed S2 of Hacks; hopefully that’s not the finale, but if it is then it went out in fine form. Better Call Saul, the final season, is on mid-show break but it’s been really good. S1 of Julia (HBO Max), about Julia Childs, was very good; can’t wait for S2.

    Music? Meg Myers is dropping new music. I first heard her cover of “Running Up That Hill”, back in 2019, and loved it. Went looking on YouTube, found all of her older stuff, and I’m really happy that I did.

  18. 18.

    zhena gogolia

    @WaterGirl: imdb: In 1999, When he was hired as a rookie reporter for Yomiuri Shimbun. As a cadet, he describes being taken under the wing of Sekiguchi, an older detective. Adelstein was initially assigned to “tacky” Saitama, and the memoir covers his next 12 years as a staffer for the paper, describing 80-hour work weeks, relationship difficulties, and the interactions between crime reporters and the police. Specific cases involve the search for the killer of Lucie Blackman, and the memoir also details death threats after he published an expose on Tadamasa Goto. He also uncovered that Saitama Prefecture was altering scientific data on dioxin contamination.

  20. 20.

    BGinCHI

    Baud, try For All Mankind. It’s terrific.

    The Morning Show is better than it looks.

  22. 22.

    Leto

    @Baud: Shining Girls, For All Mankind, Physical, Severance, The Morning Show, Pachinko (based on the novel), and ofc Ted Lasso. There’s quite a few really good shows on it, so enjoy!

  23. 23.

    BGinCHI

    @WaterGirl: Young American reporter moves to Japan, speaks the language, trains as cub reporter and quickly gets enmeshed in major Yakuza biz.

  25. 25.

    WaterGirl

    @zhena gogolia: Thanks.  I still don’t really know what it’s about, though.  Cop show?  Police procedural?  Fiction or based on true crime?  CSI?  I read that from IMDB and I have no idea what half of that stuff is. ‍♀️

  27. 27.

    BGinCHI

    I wanted to like Pachinko more than I did. Good but not great. The bar for TV is so high right now!

    Can’t wait to watch that new season of “Borgen” too.

  28. 28.

    Denali

    The 2nd in the series of Servant of the People. It’s weird seeing Zelenskyy starring in a comedy as the President of Ukraine.

  29. 29.

    dexwood

    @BGinCHI: The movie with Matthew McConohaughy is far better. He fits the book’s protagonist so much more accurately. We, fans of the novel and the film, gave up on the series after three episides.

  33. 33.

    NeenerNeener

    More good stuff on Apple TV+: The Shrink Next Door, Truth Be Told and The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey.

    On Acorn I’ve just binged London Kills, Signora Volpe and Harry Wild.

  35. 35.

    Craig

    Another vote for Hacks. It’s a great show.

    I’ve been watching the new season of The Boys on Prime. The writers on that show are insane. The main villain is seriously one of the creepiest/scary characters on TV.

    A friend gave me Disney+ for 3 months, I thought Cruella was super entertaining. Beautiful costumes, and production design based off swinging 60s London. Emma Stone gleefully owns the role urchin turned Enfant Terrible fashion diva. Mark Strong in another great role.

  36. 36.

    Bex

    Been listening to Bruce Cockburn’s 2019 instrumental album Crowing Ignites. The title comes from the Cockburn family crest, Accendit Cantu, which can be translated a few different ways, but he lands on Crowing Ignites. All the tracks are great, but I really like Pibroch: The Wind in the Valley, with bc guitar, dulcimer and Janice Powers keyboards. “Pibroch is the trance-inducing classical bagpipe music of Scotland. Whenever I hear it, somewhere deep in my being I’m on some rocky, windswept headland, sipping whiskey from a scallop shell.”

  37. 37.

    TheOtherHank

    AppleTV+: Severed and Ted Lasso are worth watching.

    Just finished the latest Christopher Moore novel, Razzmatazz.

    We watch a lot of Scandanavian noir shows on Prime and Netflix, currently watching Deadwind (Finns)

    https://twitter.com/MisterABK/status/1531594950504235009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1531594950504235009%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thepoke.co.uk%2F2022%2F06%2F01%2Ffunny-detective-map-alasdair-beckett-king%2F

  38. 38.

    David ☘The Establishment☘ Koch

    “The Outlaws” on Amazon Prime (video)

    Brilliant take on class, economics, race, diversity, family, nerds, covid. It’s both fun and sad.

    Written by Stephen Merchant who co-created “The Office” and staring Christopher Walken.
    ———————————————————-

    “The Offer” on Paramount+ the unexpected struggle to produce “The Godfather” (video)

    ———————————————————-

    Coming out this week is a spy drama staring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow on FX/Hulu “The Old Man”. It looks riveting. (video)

  39. 39.

    Mike in NC

    Tonight is the series finale of the Watergate-related “Gaslit” starring Sean Penn and Julia Roberts as John and Martha Mitchell. 8 PM EST on Starz. New series called “Dark Winds” is on AMC at 9 PM EST. Set on a Navaho reservation in the early 70s. Starz also has “Becoming Elizabeth” at 9 PM.

  40. 40.

    Leslie

    Always glad to see the recs here! We just started Dark Winds, from Tony Hillerman’s books. Good stuff.

  43. 43.

    RSA

    I’ve started watching Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, on Paramount+, and I have to say it’s the first Star Trek property I’ve really, really enjoyed in a long time. (I was going to say “since Deep Space 9”, but then I did look forward to seeing Voyager episodes.)

    Anson Mount, as Captain Pike, often seems to be channeling Captain Kirk from the original series. Strange New Worlds seems to have gone back to basics, in that it’s a Wagon Train to the Stars, as the original series was conceived. I gather from reviews that it’s being fairly well received. I’m glad about that.

  47. 47.

    Leslie

    @Craig: I enjoyed season 1 of The Boys, but after the pandemic hit I found I couldn’t watch it anymore. Fortunately, there’s an embarrassment of riches these days on tv.

  51. 51.

    Craig

    Read John Scalzi’s new book The Kaiju Preservation Society. A novel about strange employment opportunities for a New Yorker during 2020 pandemic times. Typical Scalzi wit. Solid stuff.

  52. 52.

    no comment

    @BGinCHI:

    @dexwood:

    Huh. I enjoyed The Lincoln Lawyer. My husband talked me into watching it. I haven’t read the books or seen the movie, so I didn’t have anything to compare it to. I thought the first episode or so was slow, but a few episodes in I thought it got really interesting. We binged the series to find out how it would end.

    Also watching The Pentaverate. I heard others recommend the show. Only a few episodes in right now. I knew it had Mike Myers playing several characters, but the humor is lot more lowbrow than I expected.

    Planning to watch new Stranger Things episodes.

  53. 53.

    UncleEbeneezer

    For All Mankind.  Ho….leee…shit!!!  That S3 premiere was BONKERS!!

    I don’t think any show does as good a job of ratcheting up incredible tension and then hitting you with an unexpected swerve.  And doing so in pretty much EVERY episode!  Each episode feels worthy of being a finale.

    It’s one of the only shows that we are always ready for another episode.  Most binge-able.  Which makes sense, when you consider that the same guy did Battlestar Galactica which had all the same qualities, and to my mind was really the first series that people binged.

    Still think FAM is the most criminally overlooked/underrated series out there.  If there’s any series that should be absolutely raking in the Emmys, it’s For All Mankind.

  54. 54.

    James E Powell

    Recent completed binges:

    Night Sky. Really liked it. Hope there’s a Season 2. Sissy Spacek & J K Simmons well supported by a cast of people I never saw before.

    Under the Banner of Heaven. Not all that good, but, as John Lennon put it, I had to look having read the book.

    Getting ready to binge Season 2 of Russian Doll & Season 4 of Stranger Things.

    Last day of school was Friday. I got ten weeks & I’m open to suggestion.

  56. 56.

    UncleEbeneezer

    I think Stranger Things has officially jumped-the-shark, for us.  Honestly, I felt that last season already, but only about 15 minutes into the new season we finally bailed.  The novelty had worn off and we found ourselves just not really giving a shit and don’t really find the kids all that cute anymore.  It’s just way too cheesy.

    Imo, Minx, For All Mankind and Winning Time (both on HBOMax) are much better for 70s/80s nostalgia.

  57. 57.

    NotMax

    Very recent watches which were not the greatest thing since sliced celluloid but okay enough to stick with.

    Netflix: All Hail, Home for Christmas, Operation Mincemeat
    Prime:     Pagan Peak (season 1 free for month of June)
    Tubi: West of Liberty
    Hulu: Batman & Bill, Please Like Me
    .

  60. 60.

    Anotherlurker

    I just finished “The Kaiju Preservation Society” and really enjoyed it.
    I recommend it for fun, escapist lit, especially if you enjoy the Kaiju genre.

    @Craig:

  61. 61.

    NotMax

    ‘@zhena gogolia

    It fell into the almost solely British category of the leisurely thriller. Tipped a bit too much into leisurely at the expense of thrill for my taste, but still okay enough.

  62. 62.

    Starfish

    @Baud: I watched Severance, but it was deeply weird, and I was not sure what the heck I was watching. Christopher Walken is in here.

    For All Mankind is an alternate history of the space race and is pretty good.

  63. 63.

    David ☘The Establishment☘ Koch

    “Winning Time” on HBO. Chronicling the rise of the Lakers seen through the rivalry between two small town, poverty stricken rookies, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and their roll in the rebirth of the NBA and their affect on culture. (Video) [caution – language]

  64. 64.

    NotMax

    OT.

    Extreme close-up of Hugh Jackman at start of an excerpt from The Music Man on Tonys. He didn’t look well, appearance was haggard.

  67. 67.

    Starfish

    @Raven: This was great.

    It was interesting to see people try to fight with David Simon about what really happened to Sean Suiter.

  68. 68.

    Craig

    I am not an Adam Sandler fan. That said, I really enjoyed Hustle on Netflix. Sandler plays a worn down, middle aged basketball scout for the Philly 76rs fed up with travelling the world looking for future superstars. He finds one with potential. You’ve seen all this before, but I found it really entertaining. Whodda thunk I’d see a believable romantic relationship between Adam Sandler and Queen Latifah. Produced by Le Bron James and Joe Roth of Pixar/Disney it has cameos and acting roles from an absolutely countless number of NBA stars and legends. Maybe I’m just psyched that the Warriors are in The Finals again.

  71. 71.

    Layer8Problem

    My partner and I are watching The Bureau (in French Le Bureau des
    Légendes) and finding it very engaging. Just for myself I’m watching
    season four of Foyle’s War; somehow English policework on the
    homefront in World War II is kind of calming. And another thumbs up
    for Hacks! As for reading, I just finished The Good Soldier Švejk by
    Jaroslav Hašek.

  72. 72.

    MisterDancer

    I call For All Mankind Ronald D Moore’s love letter to Star Trek; he not only got his start on TNG, he has been a lifelong fan. It started good and is just astonishing now. It’s a thriller which has clearly been researched (scientifically and historically) to within an inch of its life, and emotional stakes that (with one big mistake in my opinion) feel really realized and compelling.

    The

  74. 74.

    David ☘The Establishment☘ Koch

    The final season of “Better Call Saul” on AMC

    The current story arc is outlandish and ridiculous, but I watch because one of the lead protagonist, Kim Wexler is such a bad ass (video)

  77. 77.

    Yutsano

    @RSA: I absolutely loved the gut punch in the latest episode. It’s really important to know that even when the crew does everything right the end result can still feel like a loss*.
    *I’m trying to avoid spoilers as much as possible but damn that one was just a *chef’s kiss* ending.​

    (I fergot me star again…)

  78. 78.

    David ☘The Establishment☘ Koch

    @Craig: ​

    travelling the world looking for future superstars.

    You know who actually did that – Al Lewis, better known as Grandpa Munster.

    Oklahoma’s Billy Tubbs also has praise for Lewis. “He’s someone who really knows how to spot kids,” says Tubbs.

    Sports Illustrated did two features on him over the years and he’s credited with discovering Lew Alcinder, who would later change his name to … (checks notes)….. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

  82. 82.

    no comment

    @dexwood:

    No problem. Most of the mysteries got tied up by the end of the season, but they left one to solve. I don’t know if Lincoln Lawyer will get a second season on Netflix, but if it does, I’ll watch it.

  85. 85.

    AliceBlue

    We’ve been enjoying Gaslit. We’ve also been watching The Offer on Paramount+, about the making of The Godfather.

    I just finished reading Travels With George by Nathaniel Philbrick. “In the fall of 2018 ,Nathaniel Philbrick embarked on his own journey into what Washington called ‘the infant woody country’ to see for himself what America had become 229 years later”, retracing Washington’s 1789 tour. Sometimes humorous, sometimes depressing, but always interesting.

  86. 86.

    jnfr

    @dexwood:
    I’m not a fan of the books so I think that made it easier for me to enjoy the TV show. I did really enjoy the film, but this LL works for me as a totally separate thing.​
    ​
    ​

  87. 87.

    prostratedragon

    Of things I’ve never seen before, Murdoch Mysteries is pretty good so far. I’m almost through the first season. Haven’t seen many movies lately, but have caught a number of live performances since they came in bunches on the schedule. Last week I saw Akhnaten at the Met Opera (and while we were at it, the Amara exhibit at the Met Museum), the CSO with Daphnis and Chloë and since when it rains it pours, Cecile McLoren Salvant also at Orchestra Hall. Rich experiences all, but Imma chill for a while.

  90. 90.

    Anyway

    @Kristine:

    I just finished Book 4 “Spook Street” of the Slough House series by Mick Herron. I recommend the series if you like multiple strands of narration/action. Some people hate that, I dig it.

  91. 91.

    FelonyGovt

    On Apple TV: Slow Horses, Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, Acapulco, Physical (which I like and my husband hates).

  92. 92.

    FelonyGovt

    And in books, I enjoyed The Candy House by Jennifer Egan and Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin.

  93. 93.

    UncleEbeneezer

    Oh almost forgot, finally just started watching the newest season of Atlanta.  God-DAMN that show is not afraid to go into some seriously dark territory.  And clearly doesn’t give a F*** about our White Fragility.  So far (two episodes in) it is more like Get Out than anything else.  Freakin’ brilliant.  Though for us white people, you might need to read some articles or listen to podcasts for all the stuff that goes over our heads.

  94. 94.

    Heidi Mom

    I’m watching the new season of Beck, the classic Swedish police procedural, on MHz Choice. Four episodes, released one per week on Tuesdays.

  95. 95.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @FelonyGovt: We tried Physical and I loved it but my wife has struggled with weight/body issues for years and it just hits way too close to home.  It’s too accurate.  And I understand why she doesn’t wanna spend our time watching it, because hell it even made me uncomfortable.

  96. 96.

    BGinCHI

    @Kristine: I forgot to mention this show!

    Terrific season and just when you think Oldman doesn’t have another great performance in him, he just steals it.

  97. 97.

    Gwangung

    @Yutsano: Heh. To show you how good this first season has been considered, this has been called the CLUNKER episode. Even with the praise it got (which was deserved). That’s how good the fan reaction has been.

  99. 99.

    oatler

    On the Decades antenna channel I’ve been sullenly watching “Police Story”. It’s as dank and dingy and dull as I remember from the 1970s.

  100. 100.

    Doug R

    @Leto:

     

    @RSA: We’ve been enjoying Obi-Wan and Ms Marvel on Disney+ on Wednesdays and then Orville on Disney+(Hulu) and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Thursdays with The Boys on Amazon when they show up on Thursday evening or Friday morning.

  102. 102.

    Kristine Pennington

    Been watching Force Majeure – excellent drama about betrayal and the damage it does to a marriage…..won award at Cannes some years ago. The actors are top notch and the story is mesmerizing.

  103. 103.

    Poe Larity

    Reservation Dogs is fun with all Indigenous writers, directors and cast

    Also trying to finish Ada Palmer’s ending to Terra Ignota.

  104. 104.

    karen marie

    Sticking my head in to recommend a very funny three-season series on HBO featuring one of our favorite gay pirates – Rhys Darby. “Wrecked.” I’m halfway through season 2.

  105. 105.

    Sandia Blanca

    @Craig:  I just heard an interview on NPR with the director of “Hustle” and it sounded great! Thanks for confirming.

  108. 108.

    Sister Golden Bear

    About to watch “Big Bug,” by the director of “Delicatessen.” Reviews are decidedly mixed but visually it looks interesting. I happened across an exhibit about in Lyon two weeks ago. It involves robots and the director focused on building/using actual robots rather the CGI.

  109. 109.

    MazeDancer

    @RSA: Anson Mount as Pike is delicious in ways Kirk could never be. But Strange New Worlds is great.

    Also outstanding on Paramount is The Offer. Matthew Goode as Bob Evans is perfect. The entire cast is wonderful.

  110. 110.

    Mr. Bemused Senior

    @James E Powell: I enjoyed Night Sky, great acting though the mystery developed a bit slowly. Amazon tells me Undone season 2 has arrived. I’ll watch Bosch Legacy later; I  need something less dark right now.

  113. 113.

    Layer8Problem

    @Omnes Omnibus: I’ve got a habit of dropping series and restarting them. Peaky Blinders is on the upcoming list, for me anyway.

    After The Bureau we’re looking forward to the latest iteration of Borgen and Zelenskyy’s show’s second season.

  114. 114.

    trollhattan

    “The Offer” seemed a stretch based on the premise and wow, was I wrong. Riveting, great cast, terrific production.

    Decided to binge “Stranger Things” and while putting X Files, Alien and Fast Times in a blender sounds sketchy it’s more entertaining than I’d anticipated. The teen characters come across as actual teens, which is 80% of of the challenge in these shows.

    REALLY want the second half of the final “Better Call Saul” season, now.

    “You’re the Worst” I’m maybe three seasons into and it’s very witty utterly NSFW.

  117. 117.

    Citizen Scientist

    I’ll second West of Liberty.  Not amazing by any means but it did hold my attention enough to watch the entire series  in 3 days.  I did like the way they ended each episode with a lot of suspense.

  119. 119.

    karen marie

    Oh, how could I forget?  After watching a preview, I bought the first season of “Will” on Amazon.  I don’t have cable, so can’t watch TBS shows – if you do you can watch it for free.  I highly recommend it.  The kid playing William Shakespeare is adorable.  It takes a lot of liberties with history but, in my opinion, it works.  I’ve watched only two episodes because I got distracted by audio books and watching “Wrecked.”  So much entertainment, so little time!

    I’m not entirely clear but one may be able to watch TBS shows with a paid Hulu subscription.  I’m just as happy to own the first season so it doesn’t disappear before I can get back to it.

  120. 120.

    Leto

    @Doug R:  I really really want to watch Star Trek stuff. We enjoyed Picard, and the first two seasons of Discovery. Strange New Worlds, as well as the animated series, looks really interesting, BUUUUT we already have so many sub services that we’re just not going to add another one. I guess when we eventually drop one we’ll do it.

    @UncleEbeneezer:  I forgot to mention this one. Brilliant show.

  121. 121.

    eddie blake

    rewatching the expanse. enjoying the boys season 4. young justice: phantoms just wrapped up and it was incredible, just incredible. completely ADORED star trek: lower decks and have begun watching strange new worlds. so far, it’s quite enjoyable and very nice to look at.

    kenobi is ok, the girl playing leia is phenomenal. hopefully it sticks the landing. letting robert rodriguez run the book of boba fett was a mistake IMO, though. of all the disney star wars tv offerings, that was by far the weakest. i don’t think he has the same grasp of the material that filoni and favreau do.

  123. 123.

    Luminous Muse

    I don’t read many books anymore but I’m really liking Jennifer Egan’s The Candy Store – a kind of sequel to her Pulitzer winner The Goon Squad. The from of the book is unusual, which is putting off many folks but if you accept it the characters are great and her writing is greater. I believe she’s the greatest living novelist. Though since I don’t read much there might be better out there.

  125. 125.

    Layer8Problem

    @Omnes Omnibus:   “Is The Bureau on AMC+?”

    Yep, it is.  I’m intrigued by The Ipcress File as well.  It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the Michael Caine movie and I understand the AMC+ one diverges from that and the book.

  128. 128.

    NotMax

    Oh, one more French entry on Prime. Fluffy as meringue, with a side order of joy is Odette Toulemonde.

  130. 130.

    Layer8Problem

    @charon: Au contraire, The Bureau is definitely on AMC+; that is, through AMC+ as a side purchase from Amazon Prime.  I think Amazon Prime offers the same deal for it via Sundance Now as well.​
    ​
    ​

  131. 131.

    charon

    @Layer8Problem:

    So I went on a hunt, found Wisting on Sundance Now.

    If the Bureau is on AMC+ or Sundance Now I did not see it

     

    (AMC+ includes IFC, Shudder and Sundance Now).

  132. 132.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @Kristine Pennington: Me too.  Especially if it offers perspectives of Black People, Women, LGBTQ etc. that I wouldn’t have naturally understood.

    Atlanta is really great in that regard.  You can tell Donald Glover really enjoys making White People feel unsettled.  Something that the horror series Them also did very well.

  133. 133.

    MLC

    Mind Over Murder, starting 6/20 on HBO.  Documentarian Nanfu Wang takes a deep dive into how law enforcement arrogance and coerced false confessions led to six (SIX) wrongful convictions for a rape and murder in rural Nebraska.  Wang is a hell of a journalist and storyteller – so this should be a compelling watch.

  134. 134.

    NotMax

    ‘@charon

    2 seasons of Wisting included with subscription to AMC+. Not currently included without additional charge above that of Prime membership..

  135. 135.

    JustRuss

    Just finished The Pentaverate. Pretty good if you like Mike Meyers, I could have done with less potty humor but that’s his schtick.

    Just started Stranger Things, like it so far. Watched a bit of Outer Range, I’ll give it a few more episodes at least.

  136. 136.

    Joanna Lockwood

    Although Bad Actors meanders a bit, it is still almost as compelling a read as Slow Horses. Mind you, that’s not surprising: on Amazon, Mick Herron is described as “The John Le Carré of our generation” and it’s all to do with bad actors and slow horses. Who would have thought le Carré might be associated with “any generation”! In terms of acclaimed spy novels, Herron’s Slough House series has definitely made him Top Of The Pops in terms of anti-Bond writers. For Len Deighton devotees that ends a long and victorious reign at number one.

    Raw noir espionage of the Slough House quality is rare, whether or not with occasional splashes of sardonic hilarity. Gary Oldman’s performance in Slow Horses has given the Slough House series the leg up the charts it deserved. Will Jackson Lamb become the next Bond? It would be a rich paradox if he became an established anti-Bond brand ambassador. Maybe Lamb should change his name to Happy Jack or Pinball Wizard or even Harry Jack. After all, Harry worked for Palmer as might Edward Burlington for Bill Fairclough in another noir but factual spy series, The Burlington Files.

    Of course, espionage aficionados should know that both The Slough House and Burlington Files series were rejected by risk averse publishers who didn’t think espionage existed unless it was fictional and created by Ian Fleming or David Cornwell. However, they probably didn’t know that Fairclough once drummed with Keith Moon in their generation in the seventies.

  137. 137.

    David_C

    @Baud: I’m late to the party, but Ted Lasso, wecrashed, Slow Horses, Severed, For All Mankind. Morning Show is a romp.

  138. 138.

    David_C

    For books, I’m reading The Bright Ages, by Gabrielle and Perry. It’s about the centuries that followed the fall of the Roman Empire, which have been misnamed the Dark Age. There was a lot going on back then.

  139. 139.

    Chat Noir

    Barry on HBO is amazing. Really funny but also really dark. It reminds me of Breaking Bad in tone and style and storytelling. Bill Hader and Henry Winkler are SO good.

    Also Hacks. I love Jean Smart beyond words. She is such an amazing actor. The writing is top shelf.

  140. 140.

    Miss Bianca

    Way late to the party, as usual…

    And because I’m almost always way late to the pop culture parties, usually at least ten years behind the curve, I just finished watching Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse. Creepy, but cool.

    About to start Season 2 of Deep Space Nine.

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